II Corinthians 1:8 “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:”
The “trouble which came to” Paul and the Brethren “in Asia” (Acts 19:21-41) was extremely severe. Paul uses this “trouble” to encourage and teach us that, though we are naturally limited in strength and resources, the God we worship is not limited! Their “trouble” was so severe “that” they “were pressed out of measure”; that is, their “trouble” was so severe that he simply did not have sufficient words to describe how severe it was. Their “trouble” was so severe “that” it was “above strength”; that is, their “trouble” was so severe that they simply did not have the “strength” to overcome it. Their “trouble” was so severe “that” they “despaired even of life”; that is, their “trouble” was so severe that they began to feel that death was better than “life”. Their “trouble” was so severe “that” they “had the sentence of death in” themselves; that is, their “trouble” was so severe that they were convinced that the “trouble” was going to take their “life”. But, their “trouble” was a learning experience for Paul and the Brethren with him and for all the Children of God in all ages, even for us right now. He explains, that through this “trouble” they learned “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead”; that is, they were so overwhelmed with despair that they learned that they could not “trust in” themselves “but” they “should” and could and must “trust” “in God” who has such great power that He can and does “raise… the dead”! So, we have a great opportunity to “stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13) and “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10) and to “publish” among our “friends” “how great things Jesus” has “done for” us” (Mark 5:20).